Lake Nakuru – where did the flamingos go?
Lake Nakuru in the heart of Kenya, only 160km from Nairobi used to be one of the main tourist attractions, known for its pink colour from all the flamingos visiting there for the lake’s rich algae life. For hundreds of years thousands of flamingos came to the lake to feed on the blue-green algae which provides them the pink colour. This paradise ceased to exist about 5 years ago when due to global warming the temperature of the lake increased and the algae died therefore the flamingos were left without food and they had to migrate to the neareat lake called Lake Bogoria which is 120km away from Nakuru. Also unmanaged garbage disposal made the water conterminated so animals no longer come to drink from the lake. The lake itself provides a beautiful landscape from the lodges built on the hill and the Nakuru national park is famous of its white rhinos and Rotschild giraffes.
The park is in a realy good condition with good quality roads compared to other national parks in Kenya and rangers are on high alert for poachers. The park is quiet dense after seeing the dry empty savannahs in Masai Mara or Amboseli national parks. The acacia trees provide a great hang out spot for the leopards.
Lake Naivasha is only 90kms away – which is a freshwater lake and famous for its boat rides and school of hippos. The lake used to be the landing spot for British seaplanes before Jomo Kenyatta airport opened in Nairobi in 1958.
The lake has a colourful wildlife from fish eagles lurking for fish to hippos guarding their territory around the vegetation.
For the free spirited tourists who likes birdlife and are brave enough to hire a car from Nairobi the 3 lakes Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria and Lake Naivasha provides a great week itinerary.
For accommodation the new Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge comes highly recommended with amazing lake views from the hill.
The video above offers you a teaser of Lake Nakuru where I got to fly the drone with the remaining flamingos. You have to look closely to see their pink colour because the sun was hiding behind the clouds casting dramatic overcast shades.
For any questions please feel free to contact me on naomi@xpeditionr.com
